Thoughts for Thursday

Friends

By Guest Blogger Emily Farmer

Are you a good friend? What do you look for in a friend? Friends are those that stick closer than a brother says the writer of Proverbs. " A man of many companies may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." I look for honesty, loyalty, and someone who will be there no matter what it takes. Friends are those who are fun to be around and with.

However we all have those people in our lives that suck the energy out of us as well as all the happiness life has to offer. For these friends I say steer clear from and most importantly pray for them and your relationship with them. If you are struggling with a friend in any area of your life, ask God to lead you to verses that can reassure you of His truths. One of the ways we can deal with difficult friends is to find Bible verses and make them visible by writing or typing these verses out. I love to use index cards for this and place them around the house. Insert your name if that applies, and spend some time sitting at God's feet praying these verses to Him. James 4:8says "Come near to God and he will come near to you."

God made us for relationships and friendships. In Phil. 3:17-21 Paul gives advice for imitating Christ even in Friendships. So take his advice and become the best friend you can be. God wants us to make and keep friends. HE wants us to hold Him in the center of our lives and if we do that all other areas of our lives will fall into place, that includes friendships. "Three are even better, for a triple cord is not easily broken." Ecc. 4:12 (NLT) Three in this verse refers to God, you and a friend. Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is living and active." But we can only experience that if we get in His word.

Press On Challenge:

If you have a friend that you need to mend a relationship with go to that friend and talk but,

before going to that friend ask God to lead you in what to say. Then let the outcome be up to Him.

Press On Verses:

"Two are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed." Ecc.4:9 (NLT)